Final answer:
Rutherford B. Hayes was declared President after the 1876 election through the Compromise of 1877, where he agreed to federal troop withdrawal from key Southern states in exchange for being awarded the presidency, effectively ending Radical Reconstruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Rutherford B. Hayes Won the Presidency
Rutherford B. Hayes became the President of the United States after a highly contested election in 1876. The backdrop of this election was a nation recovering from Civil War, grappling with Reconstruction, and reeling from economic turmoil post the Panic of 1873. Hayes was the governor of Ohio and a Republican candidate without major political scandals, which gave him a clear advantage over other candidates who were marred by improprieties.
The election results were embroiled in allegations of voter fraud and electoral malfeasance, particularly in states with strong Reconstruction efforts. To resolve the impasse, the Compromise of 1877 was struck. Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the election by an electoral commission, in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida. This effectively ended Radical Reconstruction and allowed Southern Democrats to regain control of their state governments.
In his bid to win the presidency, Hayes had the support of Republicans who saw him as a compromise candidate - he was respectable, from a key state, and had moderate Reconstruction views. The Republicans worked behind the scenes to forge the Compromise of 1877, offering not only the removal of troops but also land grants for Southern railroads and federal funding for internal improvements. Hayes's presidency thus began with these significant concessions to the South, marking the end of a tumultuous era in American politics.